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The Panic Button

May 22nd, 2006 | By: Jay | 7 Comments »

So I’ve been digging futily on some stats to indicate “who wins when scoring first, or last” in WC matches (not that I have a bookie or anything riding on these matches, unlike our friend Josh who has done us one better and thrown down the gauntlet with his in-laws. ahem.) ANYWAY… it got me to thinking, “at what point in a match, when no one has scored or when Italy is behind, do you start to sweat?” I don’t want to hear how you refuse to surrender (non mollari mai!) but let’s be honest, at some point everyone gets edgy and sees that one button they don’t want to see: the panic button.

I used to get dizzy every time the team would get behind; playing ‘catch up’ has been a problem historically. But this latest version of the Azzurri has pretty lethal scoring potential and they’ve also been darn good at keeping the opposition out of the net in the first 50-60 minutes. So you can look at it two ways: A.) If they get behind, the odds are good they’ll be able to nick a couple of goals. OR B.) If they are leaking goals early on and haven’t solidified a lead by the 70 or 75th minute, it could be a very bad sign that its not their day.

Personally, my ‘panic button’ this time around won’t surface until late in the match. And it sort of depends on who is on the pitch. I like my odds if Inzaghi or Del Piero are out there pounding around as time winds down. Toni and Gilardino? I’m not so sure. Sometimes its pays to be crafty, and a guy like Pippo drives people nuts because of ‘when’ he produces as much as ‘how’ he produces. Italy has scored in the 75th minute or later in five of their last six matches, which is a trend worth watching.

Tags: Azzurri, Italy

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Comments

By rinaldo | May 23rd, 2006 at 12:52 am

honestly, i’d sweat if italy’s LEADING by one goal, and we’re in the 89th minute…
(remember france, korea)

Posted from India

By Vin | May 23rd, 2006 at 1:10 am

Ha ha… I know what you mean Rinaldo. The fear of losing a lead can be worse than the fear of not being able to catch up. I feel the same way. We can be a goal down in the 70th minute, and I will be less nervous than I would be if we were a goal up at halftime.

Damnit. This is reminding me of Baggio’s heroics in ‘94.

Posted from United States

By rinaldo | May 23rd, 2006 at 5:00 am

yeah…nigeria…what a game…

And i just realised…ever since i’ve been an italy supporter (well, i’m not italian), italy has never been eliminated (WC or euro) after the other team took the lead. So there has ALWAYS been more than just the disappointment of losing. It’s losing a game where we almost won. I wish if italy were to lose this time, they would just lose 2-0 or something (sorry, but i can’t handle another almost-win loss). From the time schillachi scored first against argentina to cassano putting in the last minute goal against bulgaria, it’s always been a heartbreaking elimination.

Posted from India

By Josh | May 23rd, 2006 at 8:58 am

Based on US 94, france 98, Euro 2000, WC 02, and to some extent Euro 04:

I’m now on the edge at kick off.

heck who am i kidding, i’m on the edge as i write this.
But this time we’ve got Luca Toni, and a matured Francesco Totti, who IMO has got something to prove to the world. This spells D-A-N-G-E-R to the opposition.

Gila’s got to sit though.

Posted from United States

By Paul | May 23rd, 2006 at 11:54 am

I’m with you Josh. As soon as the whistle blows for the opening kick off my heart starts pounding as if someone had a gun to my head and doesn’t stop until the final whistle. I would only relax if they went up by three goals, which was a crazy proposition four years ago, but a real possibility now.

As for Gila on the bench, I’m not sure. Toni and Gila have been the first choice partnership for the last 5-6 games and have worked very well together. Would you rather start with Pippo and Toni? I see Pippo as more of a substitute. This is probably one of the things Lippi will work out in the two friendlies.

Posted from United States

By Vin | May 24th, 2006 at 6:40 am

I don’t know guys… I just have this feeling that Pippo will come off the bench and stun everybody.

Posted from United States

By roby | May 24th, 2006 at 7:01 am

Rinaldo, you make me remember things I want to forget

Posted from Australia